Leica M9 FF-CCD corrosion on sensors

[MCTuomey]

Mike, I totally agree with you, and I was in the same position as you, and even switched to Sony when my M9 was in repair. But I can confidently say the M240 is the most mature digital M product to date. It is not affected by any major issues and works seamlessly.

Edward, thanks for the recommendation - taken to heart and head. Perhaps I'll have a fair opportunity to do so, depending on Leica's responses.

 

[jaapv]

No need for jealousy guys! I mean how many of you are NOT members at LUF? 🙂

😀😀😀:angel:

 

[robert blu]

Just curious, are people going to buy an M-E or similar told of this possible (i'm optimistic!) problem? i was in a shop, important Leica dealer today to pick up my M7 after RF adjustment and I was suggested to buy one of these...
robert

 

[Jack Sparrow]

Both my digi M's are in for repair (so much for backups). Likely a long process. What concerns me is that the pleasure I derive from using Leica gear is dissipating, due to the frequency and length of service trips. I'm not one of those who believes that a higher price commands higher reliability and quality. My view is that Leica is a luxury brand and what I'm paying for, more than anything else, is pleasure and delight in use. It's starting not to be fun. It's a drag to ship gear, wait, discuss repairs, wait, discuss make good proposals, wait some more, figure out how and what to shoot in the meantime, wait, and then get the gear back only to restart the cycle soon enough for the next problem.

This isn't luxury. This is discouraging and disappointing. My Canon and Fuji gear is looking a lot better these days.

Agreed. I picked up a Fujifilm X-T1 a while back, and every time I use it... It's making me want to liquidate pretty much everything else. Unlike Leica, they seem to understand firmware. In fact, in just over a week they're dropping a mega firmware update for most X cameras (as I'm sure you know) that will add a ton of new features. Who else does that?

Speaking of Fujifilm, remember the early "mushy d-pad" issue early on? Fujifilm made it right - fast and free. Send your camera in, a week later it was back with a new d-pad.

I think my Leica gear may be on probation. Seriously hope Leica does us solid tomorrow, as like you - I really enjoy the kit... But on thin ice.

 

[Jack Sparrow]

Me too, I actually find LUF unbearable. But that is just me. 🙂

No, it's not just you. And I wouldn't join there even if it is free. 😉

Anyway, back on-topic. Please. 😛

 

[CameraQuest]

Well, it's called the Leica User Forum after all 😉

And to be honest, before the sensor issue came up, how many posts in the digital M forum over here per day? This is a rangefinder forum, and mostly film users.

To be honest,
currently just shy of 114,000 posts in the Digital M forums, over 235,000 posts in the film M forums at RFF.

Overall film is quite popular here, but digital is more popular taking into account all the different forums.

Stephen

 

[Huss]

My M-E sensor was replaced in Jul this year (with 4 months down time) and it started to show spots again. Last week I gave a Leica Singapore for checking on possibility of trade in/upgrade to M240 (with not much of hope). To my surprise, they said yes and made me a appointment for today. Brought my M-E in this morning and they offered 65% of original price for my 2 year old M-E and I have to top up the balance for the M240. Not sure if it is a good deal, but I bite the bullet. Hope the M240 wouldn't give me any problem soon.

So just for information if you want to give a call to Leica in your country to check out.

I don't think that is a good deal at all. 65% of the value of the M-E is what you could get for it anyway if you sold it privately. So Leica is basically saying the answer is to buy an M240. They are not actually helping you financially, at all.

If Leica's answer is to encourage us to trade up to the M240, then they really need to sweeten the deal. They essentially need to make amends with their existing clientelle. When I bought my M-E I did not want the M240. I didn't want the video, the size or the price tag. This 'solution' seems to force me to do that (if it is the solution).

 

[Huss]

Agreed. I picked up a Fujifilm X-T1 a while back, and every time I use it... It's making me want to liquidate pretty much everything else. Unlike Leica, they seem to understand firmware. In fact, in just over a week they're dropping a mega firmware update for most X cameras (as I'm sure you know) that will add a ton of new features. Who else does that?

Speaking of Fujifilm, remember the early "mushy d-pad" issue early on? Fujifilm made it right - fast and free. Send your camera in, a week later it was back with a new d-pad.

I think my Leica gear may be on probation. Seriously hope Leica does us solid tomorrow, as like you - I really enjoy the kit... But on thin ice.

I really really like the XT-1, but the EVF (on all Fujis) makes me sick (motion sickness) almost immediately. Does not happen with Sony or Olympus.

 

[Jack Sparrow]

I really really like the XT-1, but the EVF (on all Fujis) makes me sick (motion sickness) almost immediately. Does not happen with Sony or Olympus.

Interesting. Different refresh rate or something? Haven't shot with either a Sony or Olympus, so can't say. Honestly, I was expecting to hate the X-T1 (and EVFs in general) but was really impressed. It should get even better with the next firmware update on December 18th.

 

[Roger Hicks]

I don't think that is a good deal at all. 65% of the value of the M-E is what you could get for it anyway if you sold it privately. So Leica is basically saying the answer is to buy an M240. They are not actually helping you financially, at all.

If Leica's answer is to encourage us to trade up to the M240, then they really need to sweeten the deal. They essentially need to make amends with their existing clientelle. When I bought my M-E I did not want the M240. I didn't want the video, the size or the price tag. This 'solution' seems to force me to do that (if it is the solution).

And 87.3% of statistics are made up. The highlight is an impressively meaningless and totally invented number.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Pioneer]

I know it ain't digital but I am very glad my most recent Leica purchase was the M-A. Not too mention that my Bessa's are also looking more and more attractive these days. At least they seem to be working as advertised. 🙂

 

[cosmonaut]

Sometimes I wonder if "Hand Made" actually means quality anymore. I think the stigma for Leica comes from the price. Leica hasn't been innovative since the M3. They are a victim of their customers demanding less technology in a now technological field.

 

[Huss]

And 87.3% of statistics are made up. The highlight is an impressively meaningless and totally invented number.

Cheers,

R.

$3500 for a used M-E is a totally invented number?
I've seen them sell for that.

 

[MCTuomey]

Agreed. I picked up a Fujifilm X-T1 a while back, and every time I use it... It's making me want to liquidate pretty much everything else. Unlike Leica, they seem to understand firmware. In fact, in just over a week they're dropping a mega firmware update for most X cameras (as I'm sure you know) that will add a ton of new features. Who else does that?

Speaking of Fujifilm, remember the early "mushy d-pad" issue early on? Fujifilm made it right - fast and free. Send your camera in, a week later it was back with a new d-pad.

I think my Leica gear may be on probation. Seriously hope Leica does us solid tomorrow, as like you - I really enjoy the kit... But on thin ice.

Fuji is impressive in a lot of ways, especially ongoing software and lens support. Despite negativity in some circles, I like working with x-trans files in LR. And the form factor works well for me too. Not a platform for my M lenses though 🙁

 

[MCTuomey]

$3500 for a used M-E is a totally invented number?
I've seen them sell for that.

Before or after the latest sensor developments 😉?

 

[MCTuomey]

I know it ain't digital but I am very glad my most recent Leica purchase was the M-A. Not too mention that my Bessa's are also looking more and more attractive these days. At least they seem to be working as advertised. 🙂

You got that right, amigo!

 

[Jack Sparrow]

Fuji is impressive in a lot of ways, especially ongoing software and lens support. Despite negativity in some circles, I like working with x-trans files in LR. And the form factor works well for me too. Not a platform for my M lenses though 🙁

Yeah, I'm not having any X-Trans issues in LR/PS/ACR either. I'm sure the "watercolor effect" exists, but it hasn't crossed my path, yet. The form factor of the X-T1, considering the capabilities - is amazing. I use my M lenses on it, no problem... The Fujifilm adapter is my first choice, but doesn't work with all lenses. Good excuse to get a helicoid adapter that takes just about anything - and provide macro to boot. 😀

 

[dcsang]

Yeah, I'm not having any X-Trans issues in LR/PS/ACR either. I'm sure the "watercolor effect" exists, but it hasn't crossed my path, yet. The form factor of the X-T1, considering the capabilities - is amazing. I use my M lenses on it, no problem... The Fujifilm adapter is my first choice, but doesn't work with all lenses. Good excuse to get a helicoid adapter that takes just about anything - and provide macro to boot. 😀

I think those issues may have occurred with prior versions of LR (LR 4.x maybe?) I know that any "watercolor" effect was minor when I owned the X-Pro1 and I was pretty much an early adopter. It was Fuji and Adobe's lack of "playing nice together" in the sandbox that created that big kerfuffle. In the end, I nary saw an X-Pro1 image that I had shot from 2012 that I didn't like.. 🙂

Cheers,
Dave

 

[Huss]

Before or after the latest sensor developments 😉?

Just before. But that just means that owners shouldn't be financially penalized by a 'new' issue that was not their fault. It is Leica's responsibility to make them/us whole.
So saying 65% is better than what the used market currently offers is just because the current used market value is so low as a result of the mess that Leica themselves created.
We are not made whole if the only option is to accept pre-latest sensor issue market rate and pay the difference to 'upgrade' to an M240. As that involves us paying yet more money to get a functional camera. I never wanted to pay more to get an M240, so why would I want to now?

All I want is my M-E to no longer have issues. But if Leica does not take care of this adequately, you know there are going to be class actions suits.

 

[Huss]

I'll put it another way. I paid $5500 for my M-E, wanting a camera to last a long long time.
I did not want to pay the extra $1500 for an M240.

But, if the offer of 65% value is true, then to get a properly functioning digital Leica M my total cost would be what I paid for my M-E + the price of an M240 minus the trade in offer

$5500 + ($7000 - $3575) = $8925.

I would be out of pocket $3425 and this is almost $2000 more than if I bought an M240 to start off with!

You still think this is a deal?